After completing this course I have learned a lot about technology integration and planning for it in a school. I have seen that creating a Professional Development Implementation plan requires a lot of time and work to think of all of the necessary steps. There is definitely a need for a Technology Integration Specialist in every school. Unfortunately, the school that I work in does not have a TIS or very much technology. I would like to think that once I complete my degree that I could move into a position of a TIS and use a lot of the knowledge I learned in this course.
When planning PD, I learned that it is important to remember that teachers learn like students and all in different ways. Prior to this class I thought of PD as a large group setting, lecture style. I have now seen that PD can be broken down in different settings such as one-on-one, with a peer tutor, computer learning, or small groups. Additionally, PD must involve hands on practicing of what they are learning. If a teacher is just listening, they will never truly learn, just like students need to have practice to master a concept.
As a teacher in a school with limited technology, another valuable thing I took away from this class was a way to incorporate stations into a lesson, so that students can use the one computer in the classroom. Technology incorporation is something that I have struggled with and would really like to try to incorporate more in my room.
I have learned that it is so important to have continued support and professional development. If teachers receive a one time learning, with no follow up the training would likely not be successful. When there is follow up surveys to figure out the effectiveness administration can adjust training and give additional support. As teachers begin to use the technology throughout the year they may have new needs for PD. PD will evolve and will continue to be better for all staff, and eventually for all students.
